Carricante

Erse Bianco is a complex, dense cuvée of Carricante and Catarratto. Fruity and clear mineral tones on the nose. Powerful and at the same time very fine taste with a wonderfully agile acid structure and salty-mineral finish. SUPERIORE.DE

Here comes one of the most beautiful interpretations of the white grape variety Carricante. Fresh, dynamic wine from Etna with a multi-faceted aroma of citrus, white peach, yeast, flint and smoke. Cool grapefruit, taut acidity and impressive mineral hints in the dry finish. SUPERIORE.DE

"Bright straw yellow with golden reflections. In the nose of tropical fruits, orange peel, ripe apple and some fumé. On the palate very mineral, fresh and salty, animates to drink, balanced, long final." Falstaff

"This has aromas of grilled pineapple, papaya and chamomile with some distinct smoky and ashy undertones. Medium-bodied with bright acidity. Flavorful, with fantastic flinty and smoky character." James Suckling

Scent of lemon, white blossoms and quarry. It makes you want more. The southern drop from Etna does not disappoint in the mouth either. A lively acidity and a long mineral finish make this white a perfect food companion. Structure, elegance and pure white class from Etna. SUPERIORE.DE

Beautiful, single-varietal white from Carricante by Planeta's Etna-Dependance. A youthfully exuberant growth full of freshness, energy and minerality. Grown under exclusive conditions on volcanic soils and at altitudes of 870 metres, this wine prepares an exceptional pleasure. SUPERIORE.DE

Elegant, exotic-looking Etna Bianco with wonderfully wide aromas of tropical fruits, flowers and peach. Beautifully juicy, balanced and long on the palate. SUPERIORE.DE

"Pale straw yellow with greenish reflections. Pronounced aromas of gooseberry, lemon balm, freshly cut grass, a hint of tomato leaf in the aftertaste. Fresh and juicy on the palate, animates to drink, ends with a long and clear final." Falstaff

"Aromas of jasmine, grapefruit and fresh rosemary. Medium–to full–bodied with an oily texture. White smoke colors the stone–fruit and fresh–herb notes on the palate. A hint of banana leaf comes through." James Suckling

Beautiful white from Carricante that captures the energy of Etna and reflects its essence. Sparkling lemon yellow with a drop of gold. Yellow stone fruit, mint, floral and spice aromas on the nose. Complex on the palate, full fruit and subtle minerality. Racy, finely spicy and sophisticated. SUPERIORE.DE

"Pietradolce's entry-level Etna Bianco is from younger vines grown at 800m on the northern slopes of Mt Etna. Perfumed and fruity, it shows great balance with a tightness across the waist." Decanter

"Lots of melon and lemon-rind aromas with some sage and mustard seed, following through to a full body with a creamy texture and lemony finish. I like the floral and lemon-zest highlight that gives the wine energy at the end." James Suckling

Etna Bianco is made from the indigenous Carricante grape. A beguiling blend of aromas of fruit, minerals and roasted nuts, plus a fresh, round taste, good acidity and with a delicate sweetness in the finish. SUPERIORE.DE

In the history of Etna, the eruption of 1614 is legendary, as it lasted ten years and is thus to date the longest recorded eruption of the volcano that is still active today. A very impressive and fitting name for Planeta's Etna series of equally impressive wines.

Carricante from Planeta's Etna vineyard is an exceptional growth full of freshness, energy and minerality. This noble grape variety thrives under exclusive conditions, on volcanic soils and at altitudes of 870 metres. A wonderfully complex pleasure that is always released for sale only two years after the harvest. SUPERIORE.DE

"Bright, rich golden yellow. In the nose of fresh stone fruit, green apple and citrus fruit, then flint and bergamot. Taut and juicy on the palate, very fresh and with traction, mineral, citrus on the final." Falstaff

"Aromas of apples, smoked lemons and nuts with some lemon grass. Some bruised apple, too. Medium to full body. Round texture with lovely fruit and a flavorful finish." James Suckling

Planetas Metodo Classico is an elegant Brut and single-varietal Carricante. Stimulating bouquet of yeast notes, freshly baked bread with a sesame crust and fresh, bright fruit, showing beautiful clarity and a subtle hint of butter on the palate, well structured and long. The perfect companion for brunch or a midnight buffet. SUPERIORE.DE

"Planeta's Champagne-method sparkling opens with a sophisticated streak of reduction on a salty, chalky, citrusy nose that brings to mind sitting on a white sand beach with a fritto misto of seafood spritzed with lemon somewhere nearby. The palate keeps the salty, citrusy flavors alive, from sea grass to seashells to lemon, both fresh and candied, but with a depth that's almost honeyed now. Warm and comforting, but also refreshing and evocative." Wine Enthusiast

Beautiful white from Carricante that captures the energy of Etna and reflects its essence. Sparkling lemon yellow with a drop of gold. Yellow stone fruit, mint, floral and spice aromas on the nose. Complex on the palate, full fruit and subtle minerality. Racy, finely spicy and sophisticated. SUPERIORE.DE

Noblesse is the very first and still extremely rare bottle-fermented sparkling wine made from Carricante, the noble autochthonous white grape of the Etna volcano. The grapes come from 20-60 year old vines that are arranged both in traditional bush vine (albarello) and in rows in the Guyot cultivation system.

Pale straw yellow with light greenish reflections. Very delicately knitted and persistent perlage, fine foam. Intense on the nose, with delicate scents of orange and lemon blossom and ripe apple. Wonderfully fresh and dry on the palate, elegant, with pleasant acidity and a beautiful aromatic, finely yeasty finish. SUPERIORE.DE

This single-vineyard Carricante comes from the small vineyard Montalto, situated on the southern slope of Etna at an altitude of approx. 950 metres. It is the most balanced and at the same time the most exciting of all Etna Bianco from Terre Nere in its overall impression and aroma, here the whole Etna package is present in exactly the right dose: Minerality, saltiness, fruitiness and a perfect hint of flint on the nose. On the palate, it is vibrant and fine, with an almost Burgundian elegance, finesse and length. SUPERIORE.DE

"Bright straw yellow with golden reflections, luminous. Delicate floral nose with fresh iodine notes followed by notes of fresh white fleshy fruits. Very soft and enveloping on the palate, almost creamy, with a pleasant juiciness and a nice acidity in the drink." Falstaff

"Pretty nose of lemons, apricot stones, lime zest, almond cream and white lavender. Hints of white cocoa, too. Creamy, bright and textured, with a medium body and crisp acidity. Stonier at the end." James Suckling

Fantastic Etna-cresence from vines up to 60 years old from a small single vineyard with wonderfully balanced iodine and citrus aromas. Softly flowing on the palate, profound on the palate, the fine acidity, inner sweetness and delicate wood note well integrated into the overall concept designed for a long maturation period. SUPERIORE.DE

"The aroma is round and creamy, reminiscent of ripe apricots and blossom honey. On the palate, too, the wine seems beautifully melting and clean. Ripe yellow apple and quince, some beeswax. Complex and deep, yet very accessible. Vinum

"This is a complex and intense white with aromas of smoked almonds, grilled herbs, lemons, dried pineapple, flint and charcoal. Tense and textured, with vibrant acidity. Dry and subtly smoky." James Suckling

This Carricante from vines up to 100 years old from a small single vineyard gives no indication of its varietal and terroir origin. Fine fruity aroma, mineral and with a fresh sea breeze. Powerful, well structured, fine wood note, balanced and long on the palate. SUPERIORE.DE

"A concentrated yet surprisingly lean nose with fragrant aromas of white flowers, and fresh apricots and lemons. The acidity dances on the tongue, giving the wine a nice drive. On the palate, slightly nutty flavours of green walnuts, orange and fennel. Filigree and juicy, a bit salty in the finish. An approachable, albeit complex and grippy wine." Vinum

"An inviting nose with some flinty character and notes of lemon grass, pears and lilies. Medium-bodied with steady acidity and rounded notes of citrus. Focused, with a wonderful texture. Subtle spice at the finish." James Suckling

Unusual, but very interesting - a single-varietal Carricante grappa. Crystal clear, wonderful aroma of grapes, well-structured body and delicate mineral hints. SUPERIORE.DE

"Medium expressive on the nose, yet inviting and elegant, dark fruit. Round on the palate with slight sweetness, gentle mouthfeel with good length." Falstaff

A' Puddara, a single-varietal Carricante, radiates pure energy and power. Lemon, peach, white flowers and mineral aromas on the nose, breathtaking elegance and class on the palate. The almost energetic, slightly salty and long flowing final makes this wine simply irresistible. SUPERIORE.DE

"Lightening lemon yellow with green shimmer. Fine herbs adorn the nose, along with green peppers and cold tea, Williams pear on the nose, a little smoky. Present and fresh in the drink, builds up in layers, fine minerality, vibrant and taut in the attack and course, persistently long in the final." Falstaff

The area around the small town of Milo is the only vineyard on Etna where an Etna Bianco may be bottled as Superiore - and for good reason: only Carricante may be planted on the steep vineyard, which consists of dozens of small terraces. The vines are pulled up like a little tree on poles made of chestnut wood. The easterly exposure and the nearby sea allow the grapes to ripen late, thus achieving very constant acidity values and resulting in a white wine of an aromatic finesse and freshness that is unparalleled even on Etna. SUPERIORE.DE

"Bright, light golden yellow. In the nose of orange blossom and ripe apple, then slightly of Mediterranean maquis. Fresh and very juicy on the palate, harmonious and elegant, of aniseed and almond, with a long and mineral final." Falstaff

"This has aromas of lemons, sliced apples, fennel and jasmine. It's sleek, bright and elegant, with medium body and lemony acidity. So fresh." James Suckling

Fresh white from old vines with invigorating citrus scent and notes of mint, rich of tropical fruits, tight and firm, with elegant mineral note on the palate, with fine polish and high complexity. SUPERIORE.DE

"Bright shining light gold. In the nose expressive notes of citrus fruits, candied zest, some grapefruit, in addition fine floral nuances, as well as clear on wet stone. Radiant on the palate with a fine creamy texture, showing racy mineral undertones, salty on the final." Falstaff

"Complex nose of flint, smoked almonds, lemon peel, white apricots and spiced pears. It's medium-bodied with phenolic bite and vibrant acidity. Spicy and energetic at the end." James Suckling

"From the Arcuria contrada in Passopisciaro on the north side of Etna at 600-700 metres above sea level, this 100% Carricante is vinified partly in cement tanks and partly in large oak casks. The wine is then aged on its lees in cask for 12 months followed by a further 12 months in bottle. Rich, tight and powerful, it features a mineral-driven palate of peach and florals." Decanter

Giuseppe Russo farms part of the 12-hectare San Lorenzo vineyard at an altitude of about 750 metres on the slopes of Mount Etna near Randazzo. The lava flows of recent decades have created a porous soil here that is rich in volcanic rock and therefore provides excellent drainage.

Just 1,200 bottles were filled from this first vintage. The vines, which are over 80 years old, produce an extremely low yield, which makes the result all the more complex and multi-layered. Fine saltiness, light stone fruit and a well-dosed extract sweetness flow from the glass. On the palate, a good structure, the acidity and the noticeable minerality support the discreet aromas of white peach and grapefruit. The finish is smoky and has a nice salty note. It is at its best at 12°, and in a few years it will be even better! SUPERIORE.DE

"Carricante is one of Italy's most promising grapes, and I'm so happy to see it in the hands of one of my all-time favorite producers. The other white wine made by Girolamo Russo is a blend of white grapes, and the 2019 Etna Bianco San Lorenzo perfectly complements this portfolio with a more structured, age-worthy and oak-aged alternative. This old-vine expression offers white peach, citrus and melon, but the standout aromas here are those distinctive Etna overtones of ash, smoke and mineral. This is a sharp and beautifully etched white wine. Fruit comes from the lower part of the San Lorenzo vineyard at 740 meters in elevation. Only 1,200 bottles were released, and this is the inaugural vintage of Giuseppe Russo's newest creation." Wine Advocate

Quite excellent the mineral Archineri from the ancient Carricante vine. With great clarity and freshness, it shows its typical aroma profile of crushed rock, apple, banana, peach and citrus fruit. Fascinatingly dense on the palate with a velvety texture, a hint of chalk and a long mineral-complex finish. Pre-Phylloxera = from vines with no roots! SUPERIORE.DE

In the beginning, the wines from Etna led a rather shadowy existence; the great potential of the wines, some of which were produced in very small quantities, usually only delighted connoisseurs' hearts. Even today, many of the winemakers are so-called insider tips, as the wines produced in small quantities hardly appear on the international markets, or only in very homeopathic numbers. Like us here at SUPERIORE.DE, however, Angelo Gaja recognised the incomparable elegance and class, the minerality and the purist style of the Nerello and Carricante grape early on and therefore entered into a joint venture with Alberto Graci a few years ago.

The great prestige and the undisputedly high value of the vineyards, which are up to 100 years old and parcelled out in small sections at an altitude of up to 1,000 m, then led to the purchase of land on the south-west side of the volcano, and in 2017/2019 they came onto the market with the red/white debut vintage. The project is called "Idda" - the local name of the Etna volcano, which the locals thus assign a distinctly female character. Idda Biancio 2020 is now the second vintage from complex, iron- and copper-rich soils at 630 to 820 m above sea level. Incidentally, these are - how could it be otherwise - among the oldest in the still young Etna DOC region.

What we spontaneously like about the Idda Bianco is the authentic Sicilian character of its cheerful bouquet. This delightful Carricante-based white opens with cedar, citrus, orange peel and cherries. The fruit is never heavy, instead offering elegant aromatic intensity followed by pistachio and perhaps a hint of wild fennel. The volcanic identity of the wine is on full display with ashy and salty mineral hints. Our unqualified enthusiasm for its creamy texture, length and energy! SUPERIORE.DE

"Straw yellow. Ripe lemon and peach nose with top notes of gooseberries and a hint of flint and garden herbs. Citric peach with garden-herb notes, lemon and very ripe gooseberry. Very long and with focused, ripe acidity like a squeeze of lemon on the finish." Jancis Robinson

"Aromas of quinces and glazed lemons with dried herb and floral undertones. Medium-bodied. So fresh and toned with a crunchy pear-like character and vivid acidity. Lots of energy and crisp minerality." James Suckling

Here comes the first vintage of Carlo Ferrini's white cru, of which there are just 900 bottles. A 100% Carricante of crazy elegance and purity, its subtle scent of herbs and citrus fruits is complemented on the palate by a wonderful minerality and saltiness. A white full of expressiveness and finesse! SUPERIORE.DE

"Bright, luminous straw yellow with light golden reflections. Notes of fresh citrus, candied lemon and citron on the nose, merging into notes of white flowers. Vertical, precise and juicy on the palate with great acidity." Falstaff

"Quite a limey, mineral nose with fresh lime juice, crushed stones and green apples. Extremely bright, nimble and mouthwatering with medium body and a tense, mineral palate. Fresh and super zingy. Irresistible now." James Suckling

"Carlo Ferrini hits it out of the ballpark with this bottle, his first white wine from Etna. This is one of the most exciting new wines I tasted this year. The 2020 Sicilia Carricante is excellent, with a level of freshness, sharpness and focus that makes this a truly memorable drinking experience. The wine is redolent of citrus, wild sage and white flower, and of course you also get plenty of that volcanic character with salty mineral, ash and crushed stone. Winemaking in stainless steel is straightforward, and Carlo holds the wine back one year before it hits the market. This bottle is proof that some of the most interesting wines from Etna today are the whites. Only 3,500 bottles were produced, and I highly recommend you get your hands on one." Wine Advocate

100% Carricante of crazy elegance and purity, its subtle scent of herbs and citrus fruits is complemented on the palate by a beautiful minerality and saltiness. A white full of expressiveness and finesse! SUPERIORE.DE

"Loads of jasmine and honeysuckle with sliced-pear and apple aromas that follow through to a medium body with wonderful depth and intensity. Great length. No wood. Flinty. Pure." James Suckling